Mines Ministry awaits response on plan to scrap duty

The proposal
would pave way for export of surplus high-grade iron ore (with over 58 percent
iron content) in odisha and Jharkhand. The two states had approached the mines ministry
for the removal to garner revenue by exporting excess iron ore.

According to Federation of tinder Mineral Industries
168 million tones of high-grade iron ore lie idle in the country. However some
steel companies are of the view that ore is a natural resource and should not
be exported.

The major advantage the Indian steel sector has is
of domestic iron ore, so it should be conserved for the industry here, they
say. To develop infrastructure, more steel is required and hence, more iron
ore, Seshagiri Rao M V S, group chief

Financial Officer and joint Managing director of JSW Steel, had said. Meanwhile, mines ministry on Thursday launched a web portal
for star rating of major mineral mines in the country.

The main Objective of this is to bring all mines to
a minimum standard of star rating in the shortest possible time to adopt
sustainable practices.

The star rating will be based on aspects including
scientific and systematic mining to ease environmental impact, addressing
social impact of resettlement and rehabilitation, and adoption of international
standards for mining operations and reporting .http://www.axykno.com/Natura-resorces.php